• Industry players meet to improve coordination across the value chain
• Sector faces financing, logistics, and processing constraints
• Government push aligns with broader strategy to develop high-potential sectors

In Togo, stakeholders in the shea sector met last week in Lomé for a national workshop aimed at strengthening collaboration across the value chain. The initiative, led by the Togolese Coordination of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organizations (CTOP), reflects ongoing efforts to better structure and develop a sector seen as vital to the rural economy.

The meeting focused on improving coordination among producers, processors, and exporters to enhance the competitiveness of Togolese shea on regional and international markets. The sector, which provides income for many rural women, continues to face several constraints, including limited access to financing, logistical challenges, and low levels of local processing.

During the discussions, participants stressed the need to strengthen technical capacity, improve product quality, and promote public-private partnerships. They also called for tailored financing mechanisms to support local initiatives and scale up production and processing activities.

The workshop follows an earlier meeting held in March in Kara, which brought together stakeholders to address issues related to the development and sustainability of the shea sector in Togo.

The initiative comes as the government seeks to promote high-potential value chains. Since the beginning of the year, import taxes have been introduced on several products, including shea, as part of broader efforts to support local industries.

At the global level, Togo ranks as the seventh-largest producer of shea, with annual output estimated between 35,000 and 50,000 tons of nuts.

Esaïe Edoh